A-J Classics Website
The idea for purchasing the Plain Jane folding wing glider from A-J Classics started when I had tried to build one of my Hammer Down Catapult gliders with wings that would fold upwards at launch like the Guillow’s glider. Gary had suggested I look at the A-J Classics glider inspired by the model aviation legend Jim Walker. With this design the wing pivots forward and then hinges back. The wings are pulled back flat along the fuselage which reduces drag and lift.

When you launch the glider it appears to work best by aiming the catapult launcher as vertical as possible. I substitued Tan 3/16″ rubber for the rubber loop provided which gave a higher launch. Most of the time the wings would unfold and the plane would start to glide nicely. Sometimes the glider would head in a steep angle downwards. Too many of the dives and the plane tends to break.

I found that the small rubber band that pulls the wing into place stretches out over time and the wing is not put into the proper incidence.

I tightened up this rubber band and tried launching again. This worked too well as I had launched into a thermal, the glider kept circling downwind. I started chasing and the glider flew over a small lake. Thought sure it would either land in the water or fly away. Must have been my lucky day as it landed on the other shore and I was able to find it.

Another issue I have seen is that the folding mechanism scrapes the balsa fuselage and this could hinder getting the wing locked in proper position. I sanded the rough spots and covered this with glue to create a harder surface.

Bill Kuhl   ScienceGuyOrg

Plain Jane can be seen in flight in the first part of this video.